MikeSandy.net / Travel

The Tetons '11

Destinations

  • Jackson, WY
  • Grand Teton National Park, WY

Details and Ratings

  • Trip Cost: n/a
  • Trip Value: n/a
  • Destinations Rating: 5 out of 5
  • Fun Rating: 4 out of 5
  • Overall Score: 9 out of 10

Trip Summary

It had been too long since we visited the Tetons, so we headed up there for a late summer trip that, ironically, coincided with the annual Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Policy Symposium that takes place near Jackson, WY. Since I am a banker in real life, and with the point of this trip being to escape real life for a weekend, I did my best to avoid all the banker types that would ostensibly be occupying Jackson. It turns out, in fact, that world economic leaders, thankfully, are not particularly avid campers.

Daily Reports and Photos

8/26/2011

Grand Teton From Signal Mountain» Grand Teton from Signal Mountain» The Tetons from Signal Mountain» Sunset Behind the Tetons» The Teton Range» The Grand Teton»

We drove up to the Tetons, set up camp at Signal Mountain Campground, ate dinner at the Gun Barrel Steakhouse, and then drove up to the top of Signal Mountain to watch the sun set behind the Tetons.

8/27/2011

Dawn Twilight in the Tetons» Dawn Twilight on Moran» Dawn Twilight on Moran» Ready for Sunrise» Sunrise Setup» Tetons Twilight» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Sunrise Light on Moran» Mount Moran» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Tetons Sunrise» Mount Moran» Oxbow Bend Turnout» The Teton Range» The Grand Teton» The Grand Teton» Teton Thunderstorm» Lightning in the Tetons» Lightning Strike in the Tetons»

We woke up very early to get sunrise photos of Mount Moran from the Oxbow Bend Turnout. I didn't think the sunrise ended up being as spectacular as it could've been, but we each ended up with a few awesome photos.

After breakfast, we rented mountain bikes and rode from Moose to the Jenny Lake Lodge and back. I highly recommend this relatively short bike ride to anyone visiting the park. It is the best way to see the Tetons from the park road, for sure!

A late afternoon thunderstorm put a damper on plans to go for a boat ride, but I did get some amazing photos of the storm (and its lightning) from near Jackson Lake Lodge.

We capped off a full day with a nice dinner and, later, a campfire. Later at night, we got to see the International Space Station streak across the night sky.

8/28/2011

The Grand Teton» The Cathedral Group» Grand Teton Scale» The Grand Teton»

We drove back through the park one last time, and then back to real life back in Salt Lake City.